Electric switch.



BEST AVAILABLE; COPY c.1. KLEIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB: 28, I914.

1,144,419, PatentedJlme 29-, 1915.

nan rncn.

CHARLES J. KLEIN, OLE =MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THECUTLER-HAMMER MFG. .00., ,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFWISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented June 29, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, OHAnn-ns J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and umful Improvements in ElectricSwitches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being h-adto the accompanying drawing, formingapart of this specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and with respect to its morespecific features, to improved snap switches adapted to make and to"break circuit with a quick action;

Various objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafterin connection with the description of a preferred embodiment of myimproved device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective enlarged view of parts of a switch mechanism;Fig. 2 is atop View of the mechanism incorporated in a surface switchdevice, the operating member being removed; Fig. 3 is a sectional viewon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, with the operating member in position; Fig. 4is a sectional view on the line 4% of Fig. 2; and, Fig. 5 is a sectionaldetail view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

The switch mechanism illustrated comrises in eneral a reci roca'tinoieratin member 1, an oscillating contact member 2, and an energystoring operative connection between the same including resilient means3 carried by the operating member.

' Referring more specifically to the drawing, the switch operatingmember comprises a stamped metal plate 4 provided on its opposite endswith push-buttons 5 of insulating material. The contact member alsopreferably comprises stamped sheets (3 coincidentally superposed andhaving oppothe push buttons 5 proje t.

against cams 13 and 14 respectively provided on opposite sides of thepivotal axis of the contact. The cam 13 is convex, the cam 14: isconcave, and both are preferably formed by providing suitable aperturesin the contact member (Fig. 1). in practice,

the inclination of the convex cams iii to the, longitudinal arms of theoperating member is slightly greater than the inclination of.

the opposite concave cams (Fig 2) so that the action of-the spring prong11 dominates the action of the prong 12 as the operating 1 member isreciprocated;

The relation of the partsdescribed is such that movement of theoperating member carries the spring 3 therewith so that the prongs ofthe latter ride over the cams and are tensioned until the prong 11passes the apex of the convex cam whereupon tension of the spring isreleased and the contact member isoscillated to its opposite extremeposition with a quick and positive'snap movement.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5, the switch mechanism illustrated isincorporated in a surface receptacle. I tangular insulating base 15iaprovided with a central recess '16 in whichtlie current carrying partsof the switch are arranged.

The contact member is pivot-ally mounted in the base recess and isdisposed to oscillate between a pair of stationaryswitch contacts 17mounted at opposite ends of the base and having binding posts 18 forCOIIIICCtiOIIlVltlI In this embodiment a rccline terminals entcrlng thecasing through adjacent apertures 19. lhe operating member is mounted toreciprocate across the base, the end walls of which are suitablycut-away to accommodate the push-buttons 5. Fig. 5

shows a preferred manner of 'n'iounting the stationary contacts 17 onthe insulating base. As there shown, each contact has a lateral finger20 beveled at i'tsextremity and adapted to wedge betwccnthe' bridgingtingers 7 no of the moving contacts.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: Assuming the switch to bein on position (Fig. 2) pressure on the right pushbutton moves thespring? toward the left. The spring prong 11 thereupon rides over theright half of the convex cam 13 and is accordingly pressed inwardly andtensioned.

It is to be noted that during such movement this prongis acting on thecontact to hold the same in on position. The opposite spring prong 12simultaneously rides over the left half of the concave cam'and tends tomove the contact to off position. As above described, however, thecam-inclinations are unequal and the spring prong l1 dominates theotherso that the contact is not moved until reciprocation of the operatingmember carries the rong 11 past the crest of the convex cam. hereuponthe energy stbred in both forks of the spring coaot to oscillate thecontact member to its opposite extreme position with a snap movement,thereby interrupting the circuit between the stationary switch contacts.Reverse movement of the operating member effects a snap reversal of thecontact member in a manner similar to that described. Reciprocation ofthe operating member is limited by any suit able means; for example,shoulders 21 on the push-buttons which abut the walls of the sup ortingframes 9. Moreover, movement 0 the operating member is limited atsubstantially the moment the contact member is actuated so that strainon the parts is minimized. No separate means is required for limitingthe oscillation of the contact member since the spring prongs 11 and 12respectively rest in an extremity of the convex aperture 13 and in thevalley of the concave aperture 14 and act to prevent an overthrow ofthe'contact in either direction. In practice the shanks of thepush-buttons 5 and the apertures in the frame 9 receiving the same arepreferably rectangular so that displacement of the spring 3 is insuredagainst. By providing the spring 3 with two opposed forks, as described,lateral strain on the operatin tially equalized and t e contactactuating force increased. Furthermore, by arranging the spring to exertforce in directions at right angles to the pivotal axis of the contact,the latter may be loosely journaled and will move with little frictionalresistance.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, an oscillating contact memberhaving a convex cam and a concave cam on opposite sides of its pivotalaxis, and a reciprocating opcrating member having resilient meansactmember is substan-- 2. In an electric switch, in combination, anoscillating contact member having a convex cam on one side of its axis,a reciprocating operating member movable across said contact member, anda looped spring carried by said operating member and having its freeextremity biased against said cam and movable thereover to alternatelyimpede and impel oscillation of said contact member during eachreciprocation of said 'operating member.

3. In an electric switch, in combination,

a reciprocating member, an oscillating member, one of said members beingan operating member and the other a contact member,

and a spring carried by said operating mem- 4. In an electric switch, incombination, a]

reciprocating member, an oscillating member, one of the same being anoperating member and the other a contact member, a spring carried bysaid reciprocating meme ber and having forked .extremlties mjcon;

stunt engagement with said oscillating member on opposite sides of thepivotal axis thereof to alternately impede and impel movement of thecontact member during each actuation of the operating member.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a.

reciprocating operating member havingopposed push-button extremlties, anoscillating contact member and a spring carried by said operating memberand having e'xtremities biased apart and constantly e11- gaging saidcontact member on opposite sides of the pivotal axis thereof.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a

reciprocating member, an oscillating member having 'a convex cam and aconcave cam on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, one of said membersbeing an operating member and the other a contact member, a forkedspring carried by said reciprocating memher having extremitiesrestrained by said cams and riding over the same during each actuationof theoperating member to resist movement of the contact member during apredetermined initial movement of the operating member and thereafter toactuate the contact member with a snap movement.

7. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocatingoperatingmember, an oscillating contact member having a convex cam and aconcave cam on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, resilient meanscarried by said operating member and acting on said convex cam to movethe contact member in opposite directions during each reciprocation ofthe operating member, and resilient means also carried by the operatingmember and acting 10 axis, resilient means carried by said mg memberand; acting on said convex cam on said cencave cam to movelsaicl contactmember in a sin le direction during each miprocation of t e operatingmember, said first mentioned means OPPOSlHg and domisecond mentionedmeans.

8. @a an ei'ectric switch, in combination, a reciprocating operatingmember, anescillac ing contact member having a convex and a concave camon opposite sides of its pivotal operat- --.to move the contact memberrectlons durm operating mem in opposite (lieach reciprocation of the er,and res lient means also 15 carried by the operating member and. actingon said concave cam to Inove said contact member in a single directionduring each 'rcciprocation of the operating membensaid jfirst mentionedpartial reciprocation of the operating meniber and cooperating with saidsecond-men tioned means thereafter.

" 9. In an electric switc' in combination, a

2,5 reciprocating operating member, an oscillating contact member havinga convex and a concave cam on opposite sidlee of its pivotal axis, theinclination ofsaid convex cam to ,gtbe longitudinal axis of theoperating memmeans opposing and domi- 20 natlng said second mentioned.means during ber being greater than the inclination of the opposed faceof said concave cam,

forked spring carried by said opera ing' member and having ltsextremities laterally acting on said cams 1n opposed directions duringpredetermined initiaiincvement in the same 61- proaches its limit ofreciprocation in eitberfl direction In witness whereof, I have hereuntocub having its are acting on sale scribed my name in the presence of twowit Witnesses S, A. "V /arson,

R. VAN Nicer.

